Improvement in percussion-cap primers



C. CR. ALSOP Percussion-Cap Primer.,

ILFETERS. FHQTO-LITNOGHAPHER, WASHINGTON, DG.

y i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES R. ALSOP, OF MIDDLETOVN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO JOSEPH W'.V ALSOP, NEW YORK, N. Y,

lMPROVEMENT PERCUSSION-CAP PRIMERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 34,919, dated April 8, 1862.

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLEs R. ALsor, of Middletown, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Percussion-Cap Primers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, of which- Figure l is a perspective view of a percussion-cap primer with my improvements applied to it. Fig. 2 is avertical central section of the same in the line y y; Fig. 3, a horizontal section, looking upward and in the line fc Fig. 4, a plan View of the feeding-disk and actuating-spring, dac.; Fig. 5, an invert-ed plan, and Figs. 6 and 7 details of the primer.

Similar letters of reference in the several figures indicate corresponding parts.

My invention consists in the combination of the parts constituting a controlling and discharging device, and also in the combination of the same with a cylindric self-feeding percussion-cap primer.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the same.

A is the case of the primer; B B', a two-part axial pin; C, a scalloped disk for holding the caps separated, and D a flat circular bottom to the case A. The part B of the pin screws fast into the center of the bottom D, and eX- tends up into the case A a short distance, a female-screw socket being cut in it. The part B passes loosely down through a center hole in the top of the case A, and screws fast in the socket of part B.

Between the top of the caseA and the bottom D the scalloped disk is placed, being fitted loosely round the part B of the pin by means of a circular hole in its center, and kept from contact with the bottom plate by an enlargement or shoulder on the part B of the pin. The disk C has a circular rim on its upper face, Within which a scroll-spring, E, is arranged, said spring attaching by one of its ends to the part B of the aXial pin, and by its other end to the rim of the disk C. B y this arrangement vof the spring, it winds upon the part B of the axial pin when the disk C is turned in the di-` rection of the arrow l, and unwinds therefrom when the disk C turns in the direction of the arrow 2, it requiring to be wound upon the pin in order to charge the case A with caps, and to unwindtherefrom in order to force out the caps. There is also a tooth, d, formed at one part of the circumference of the disk C, by extending the metal of the disk between two of the scallops e e. This tooth insures the forward -movement of the percussion-caps as they discharge one by one from the case A.

To control the caps and discharge them by an auxiliary force, I have provided an exten# sion, F, at one part of the circumference of the case A, said extension forming a continuation of the chamber of the case A, but is cut off from a communication with it, except in one direction, by means of a curved guide-piece, g, of the top of the case, and a shoulder, h, of the inner circumference of the same, a further cut-oif of the communication with the chamber of the case, exceptin the one direction referred to, being produced by the scallops of the disk C. The extension E extends in the form of a tube bot-h above and below the case A, and at a pointeven with the top of the case A anA annular partition, 17, is formed, as shown. The upper and lower parts ot the tube are open, and in the upper part a plun ger, j, with a spiral spring, S, around its smallest diameter, is placed. The plunger, byhaving its lower portion reduced in diameter, is admitted through the opening of the partition t', while the spiral spring rests upon the partition and bears against the shoulder of the upper part of the plunger, as shown. A slot in the plunger and a pin, k, of the tube insure a connection, but allow a free up-and-down movement of the plunger.

The cap-priineigas a whole,thus constructed, is suspended by the knob H and a chain to the body of the person, and when brought into use operates as follows: The primer having bern woundl up, the percussioncaps.are placed round the disk C in the scallops, and one `in the open part of the extension F, and in this condition they are held by the pressure of the spring and the friction between the first cap and the lower part of t-he extension F. The lower part of the extension 'F is placed over the cones or nipples of a tire-arm successively,

and the caps are singly forced out of theex-` tension upon the nippers by placing the thumb upon the button of the plunger. It is obvious that as fast as one cap goes out, and the plunger is raised out of the Way, another comes, by the force of the spring and the action of the tooth of the disk C, under the plunger, ready to be forced out. l

In order that the number of caps in the case may at all times be known to the user, the disk C is numbered on its under surface at points opposite the scallops in which the caps are set, asshown, and a hole, r, is cutthrough the bottom plate, so that the numbers, as they come round, may be seen, as illustrated' in Fig` 5, Where the figures 26 appear. Y

With my invention nre-arms can be easily and rapidly capped, and many of the inconveniences experienced with other devices obviated.

I do not claim the parts A, C, and D, nor the spring F and axial pin B B', nor any of their i internal combinations with each other, nor the knob H; but

What I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In the construction of a portable handprimer, the extension F, in combination with a circular percussion-cap primer and a springplunger, the Whole constructed and operating substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein described.

"The tubular extension F, made with a right-angled discharge-passage, and With an annular partition, fi, applied, for the purpose and in the manner described, to a circular percussion-cap primer.

3. A circular percussion-cap primer of the character described, so constructed that it holds a cap in suspension out of the circle of the top of the case A, and by the pressure of the thumb upon one of its parts forces the said cap vertically 'upon the nipple of a rearm, substantially as described.

cHAs. R. ALsoP. 

